Bicycle: finding new bike for commuting

[Tinkerbell]

Okay, the gas prices are going raging demon on me. I am looking for a bike around the $300-$700 mark. It will be for commuting, around 5 miles. I have no idea what to look for. Don't know about mountain bikes, hybrids and road bikes. They all seem the same to me. I guess, no, to road bikes, since they will be out of my price range. Something with a women specific geometry preferred. What is best? Are hybrids the best for commuting? What is a good brand? Trek? Specialized? Norco? Schwinn? Your input? :pray:

[ST Vega]

Woman-specific? What?

I've heard Schwinn is good.

[DaDesiCanadian]

I'll sell you my bike! It's like orange and stuff.

[Starhammer]

Okay, the gas prices are going raging demon on me. I am looking for a bike around the $300-$700 mark. It will be for commuting, around 5 miles. I have no idea what to look for. Don't know about mountain bikes, hybrids and road bikes. They all seem the same to me. I guess, no, to road bikes, since they will be out of my price range. Something with a women specific geometry preferred. What is best? Are hybrids the best for commuting? What is a good brand? Trek? Specialized? Norco? Schwinn? Your input? :pray:

$300? Unless they're ass-raping people at the door to wal-mart, just go there and grab a mongoose. the one I have is a mountain bike called the XR 75 and it's been the best cheap bike I've ever had. the brakes are easy to adjust, the gears work properly, and it doesn't fall apart on you for leaving it in the rain. mine has been outside for the past year plus and the only thing I've had to do is replace a flat tire. (the flat may have happened under other than normal circumstances if you get my meaning. ) you don't even have to really know how to take care of it as it will absorb years of punishment without failing you. normally, the only difference between a woman's bike and a mans is the placement of the top bar and the type of seat. I'm sure they have women's style mongoose bikes as well, but if not, a top bar really isn't that big of a deal and most seats are about $20 at most. if you do go there, the workers on that isle should be able to help you narrow it down if you have needs any more personal than just a simple commute. if not, I'm here all week.

-Starhammer-

[AdverseSolutions]

Hi Tinkerbell, just FYI we have a bike thread you can post in here:

http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=153551

If you live in Ontario, you probably get a fuckload of snow. So in that case, either a mountain bike, or a road bike with a fixed gear would be good options. The former because it will have good traction and fat tires on the road, the latter because they're really fun to ride and a fixed gear will work even in icy/rainy conditions.

If you wanna go $300-700 then you're best to look around your local area for a good road or mountain bike frame, see what you find, ask friends and think real hard before you buy it. You could also post the bikes and their stats here and we could give you ideas, but yeah don't buy anything before you're really sure about it. It's a lot of money to drop.

[DaDesiCanadian]

Actually in winter time, you can almost forget about riding a bike in Ontario. The place becomes a total fucking slushfest on the sidewalks, it's not uncommon to have knee deep slush/water collect on long stretches of sidewalk, hemmed in by snow banks. Only the smaller main streets get ploughed regularly, and the major streets keep getting snow dumped from the street onto the sidewalk. Winter time bike riding is a no go.

[Demon Dash]

Snip
Mongoose is an excelent choice, although you might be late for work because they're just that comfortable for cruising on...

[AdverseSolutions]

Winter time bike riding is a no go.

That bad huh?

Yeah I lived in Boston for a year and that shit was crazy up there. When it hit November, your ass was walking! Or riding some sort of gas-fueled vehicle. Still, apparently there are people that rode in those conditions.

First time I tried to ride in Boston winter, I started heading down this hill near my house and about 1/4 the way down it my bike slipped out from under me and I shoulder-grinded down that motherfucker like a g. Damn. Then I got up and was like, fuck this I'mma get me some groceries if it kills me and I rode all the way to the supermarket.

Got my shit, put it in my bag. Started to ride back. Problem is that in the winter with all the snow, the cars have to park much further into the road. Combine that with street cars and giant buses and I got wedged in between the latter and a parked car, forcing me into the street car track groove and sending me flying into the parked car's trunk. FUCK..........got up and threw my bike against the wall (sorry bike!).

Snow is for gays, there I said it.

[DaDesiCanadian]

Yep. If you don't have a car, you're riding dat public transport in winter time son.

[EvilSamurai]

1. Get a hacksaw.

2. Put on some gloves. No fucking mittens.

3. Put on suitable clothing. Coats are good. Don't dress like you are out to steal or commit indecent exposure though.

4. Conceal hacksaw along with a bike helmet.

5. Take a walk someplace you don't normally go preferably a seldomly frequented spot.

6. Find a bike rack.

7. You want a good but not too expensive bike. A smooth, durable ride but not one so expensive that you will get tracked down. Do some research. Non-metal locks are preferable. If you already know how to pick locks, then you don't need this guide.

8. Look to see if anyone is around.

9. Saw away

10. Put on helmet and ride away. Later, paint the bike if necessary.


Note: I do not endorse any illegal activity. Remember kids, stealing isn't cool.

[Tinkerbell]

^^^Oh dear!